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Old 09-21-2009 | 11:50 AM
  #109  
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NWA320pilot
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Joined: Mar 2008
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From: 737 Capt
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Originally Posted by BSOuthisplace
Here we go again with the "I did it this way so you should too".

And talk about a waste of money, those aviation job boards are useless.

And yea, the CFI job compared to the regional job was craptacular. Old airplanes, shoddy mx, low pay, the whole shabang. Would I have taken the job if I had nothing else lined up?... yes. But I did, so I didn't and I'm thankful I didn't have to go through it. Would I have learned a couple of things doin patterns and steep turns in a 172 all day? Maybe, but I've learned much more where I am today. And I know all the naysayers out there are gonna say, "LEARNED? you shouldn't be just learning things when you're at a 121 with pax in the back!!!!" BULL, you learn new things almost every trip no matter how many hours you have, and I'm not talking about the basics like how to pick up clnc at an uncontrolled field. By the time you have your CFI or commercial you should know that (hell you should know that before you have your private) and if you don't that's where the training department should come in and kick your asz to the curb.

Just the other day a captain gave me some pointers on how to land without a yaw damper in a gusty crosswind. Now, would I have learned that CFIng it, or flying some checks around in a Baron? No. And it's a two way street, I showed him that there was multiple ways to identify the FAF on our LOC approach when the VOR was out (seemed kinda obvious to me but I guess even with his 10,000 + hours of experience he didn't know that there was).

All I'm saying is that from my perspective it doesn't make sense to put a minimum number of hours to sit in the right seat 121. It should be left up to the carrier's training department with strict oversight from the FAA on who gets to become and stay an airline pilot.
That is because you have never sat in the left seat and flown with a no/low experienced pilot. I can assure you that hours make a huge difference in ability and competence. The hours gained being a CFI are excellent because you are able to see others mistakes and learn from them. Is flying freight or teaching others the only/best way to garner experience? No there are lots of ways as others have pointed out. But sitting in the right seat for a 121 pax operation with less than an ATP isn't asking too much. Using your philosophy there wouldn't be a minimum number of hours for a commercial or ATP certificate either. Heck even my some has minimum driving experience required prior to being able to operate a car.

Last edited by NWA320pilot; 09-21-2009 at 12:05 PM.
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